Package and method of forming the same



May 4, 1937. D. M. MCBEAN PACKAGE AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAME Original Filed June 27, 19 33 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Douglas M M Bean MM TTORNEYS May 4, 1937. D. M. M BEAN PACKAGE AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAME Original Filed June 27, 1935' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Dggglas M McBean WW/QZ ORNEY5 Patented May 4, 1937 PATENT OFFICE PACKAGE AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAME Douglas M. McBean, Canajoharie, N. Y., assignor to Beech-Nut Packing Company, Canajoharie, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 27, 1933, Serial No. 677,819 Renewed July 29, 1936 10 Claims.

My invention relates to packages that have an outer wrapper of cellulose acetate or similar material, especially small packages of chewing gum, candies and other articles, and further relates to a method of wrapping the packages in such. ma-

terial.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a novel and improved package of this character, and method of producing the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved package of this character in which the cellulose acetate wrapper may be easily and quickly separated into two parts adjacent one end of the package.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a method of forming the cellulose acetate wrapper and applying it to the package whereby it may be easily and quickly removed.

The several features of the invention, whereby the above mentioned and other objects may be attained, will be readily understood from the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

' Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a package of gum, wrapped in cellulose acetate in accordance with my improved method;

Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the manner in which one end portion of the cellulose acetate wrapper may be severed;

Fig. 3 is a similar view with the severing strip torn from the cellulose acetate wrapper and with the severed end of the wrapper shown by broken lines removed from the package;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a cylindrical package such as a roll of fruit drops;

Fig. 5 is a plan view, partly diagrammatical, of a strip of cellulose acetate or similar material from which the wrappers may be formed and the devices that may be employed in forming the wrappers;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional elevation, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a view in perspective of one of the cellulose acetate wrappers; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7.

In forming the cellulose acetate wrappers in accordance with my improved method, a strip 2 of cellulose acetate may be fed longitudinally as by means of rolls 4 and 5, the grain of the cellulose acetate extending generally longitudinally thereof. The upper one of the rolls 4 is provided with a suitably formed annular projection 6, and the lower roll 4 is provided with an annular groove 8 which receives the projection G. As the cellulose acetate passes between the rolls 4, the projection 6 and wall of the groove 8 cooperate to form a straight-sided corrugation l0 in the strip in proximity to one of its longitudinal edges. As the cellulose acetate strip leaves the forming rolls 4, the corrugation I0 is engaged by suitable folding devices II which turn over the corrugation on the under side of the strip, and then the folds thus formed are flattened by means of the rolls 5 so as to form a narrow double fold or pleat l2.

As the strip is fed along after passing the pressure rolls 5, slits ii are made in thestrip adjacent and parallel to the pleat l2. After the slits are made pieces of the strip are out off from the advancing end thereof to fonn the wrappers l6. Serrated cutters (not shown) are used in thus severing the strip so that the resulting wrappers each have serrated edges 18 and IS. The pieces are cut ofi through the slits I so as to provide slits in the edges 18 and IQ of the wrappers. These slits H in at least the edge E8 of the wrapper preferably extend through the inner apexes of two of the serrations, as shown. The cutters also form a substantially U-shaped cut in the cellulose acetate so as to provide the edge is with a projecting tab 20. The longitudinal edges of this tab are preferably continuations of the slits It in the edge of the wrapper, the pleat 52 extending centrally through the tab. The cutting out of the tab provides the edge l9 of each wrapper. with a correspondingly shaped notch 22. It may be noted that the grain of the cellulose acetate in each wrapper extends generally in the same direction as the pleat l2.

The cellulose acetate wrapper may be folded about the package either by hand or by means of suitable wrapping mechanism. The wrapper is preferably applied so as to cause the pleat I! to completely encompass the package. The serrated edge I8 and the tab 20 form the outer edge of the wrapper, and in case of straight sided packages, such as shown in Figure l, the tab may project beyond one of the longitudinal edges thereof. In case of elongated packages such as shown in the drawings, the pleat l2 may be arranged in proximity to one end of the package as shown. The overlapping edges l8 and is of the cellulose acetate wrapper may be secured together by adhesive 24, and if desired the tucked in ends or other folds of the wrapper may be secured together so as to make a substantially air tight package.

With the cellulose acetate wrapper thus formed and applied, to open the package it is merely necessary to grasp the projecting tab l6 with the fingers and then pull the tab about the package. While it is difficult to start a. tear in a sheet of cellulose acetate, when a tear is started across one edge, or a. cut is initially made therein, the cellulose acetate will readily tear especially if the tear is made in the general direction of the grain of the cellulose acetate. I have found that by making the slits M, which are continuations of the longitudinal edges of the tab, that the cellulose acetate will tear very readily and that the reinforcing portion of the Wrapper provided by the pleat l2 will insure the tears on each side of 'the pleat continuing as the tab is pulled about the package, so that a strip 28 (Fig. 3) may be easily torn from the cellulose acetate wrapper, thus severing the wrapper in two. I have also found that satisfactory results may be secured without the use of the slits It provided the longitudinal edges of the tab extend to the apexes of the serrations in the edge I 8 of the strip. It will be obvious also that the tear may be started by any suitable notches or cuts in the edge l8 of the wrapper, and in fact where the outer edge of the wrapper is securely aflixed with the tab projecting, the slits or notches or other cuts may be dispensed with. The reinforcing pleat I2 tends to cause the strip to be evenly torn from the package, but in case the torn part should not run evenly and the tear extends to the side of the pleat, it is thereby prevented from extending further in that direction, thus obviating the danger of the strip breaking while being torn from the wrapper.

In addition to the pleat providing convenient means for opening the package, it compensates for shrinkage of the cellulose acetate which is likely to cause it to break as it shrinks tightly over the article. As the cellulose acetate shrinks the pleat pulls out slightly, but still remains flat about the package.

The present application is a continuation in part of applicants co-pending application Serial No. 627,325, filed August 3, 1932.

It is to be understood that the term "cellulose acetate shall be construed to include any transparent sheet material having similar physical characteristics to cellulose acetate.

As will be evident to those skilled in the art, my invention permits various modifications with out departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a package of gum or other package having an outer wrapper of cellulose acetate, the improvement which comprises a tab projecting from the outer edge of the cellulose acetate wrapper and a fold in the cellulose acetate wrapper providing a reinforcing strip portion extending about the package with one end extending through said tab.

2. In a package of gum or other package having an outer wrapper of cellulose acetate, the improvement which comprises a fold in the cellulose acetate wrapper providing a reinforcing strip portion extending about the package, the outer end of said strip portion being adapted to be grasped by the fingers.

3. In a package of gum or other package having an outer wrapper of cellulose acetate, the improvement which comprises a tab projecting from the outer edge of the wrapper, and a double folded fiat strip portion in the cellulose acetate extending about the package and to the outer end of said tab.

4. In a package of gum or other package having a sheet of cellulose acetate wrapped thereabout with the longitudinal edges of the sheet overlapping and secured together by adhesive, the improvement which comprises a tab projecting from the outer longitudinal edge of the sheet and a narrow double fold in the sheet extending about the package and through said tab.

5. A structure according to claim 4 in which cuts are provided in the cellulose acetate through the outer longitudinal edge thereof and adjacent the inner ends of the edges of the tab.

6. A structure according to claim 4 in which cuts are provided in the cellulose acetate through the outer longitudinal edge thereof and adjacent opposite edges of the fold.

7. A wrapper of cellulose acetate comprising a sheet having opposed edges thereof extending transversely of the grain of the cellulose acetate and having a narrow folded portion extending across said sheet and through said edges.

8. A structure according to claim 7 in which one of said edges is provided with a projecting tab through which said folded portion extends.

9. A structure according to claim 7 in which one of said edges is provided with a tab through which said folded portion extends and the sheet is further provided with cuts extending through said edge and arranged adjacent the inner ends of the edges of the tab.

10. In a package of gum or other package having an outer wrapper of cellulose acetate, the improvement which comprises a flat fold in said outer wrapper extending about the package in the same general direction as the grain of the cellulose acetate, cuts provided in the outer edge of the wrapper spaced a distance from opposite sides of the overlapping portions of said fold, and a tab on said outer edge of the wrapper through which said fold extends with the inner edges of said tab arranged adjacent said cuts in the wrapper.

\ DOUGLAS M. MCBEAN. 

